Evolution of Soil Chemical Fertility in an Area under Recovery for 30 Years with Anthropic Intervention

Abstract

The investigation and application of recovery techniques associated with the use of qualitative and quantitative indicators enable the ecological restoration of these sites. In this context, the main difficulty consists of establishing the A horizon, capable of supporting the emergence of other horizons, choosing appropriate species, and adding organic matter to the soil in a balanced way. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate over time (1992 to 2022) the chemical properties of a stripped oxisol that has been in the recovery process for 30 years, using liming, gypsum, and plant species. All treatments were cultivated with Urochloa decumbens (Stapf.) in 1999 and tree species in 2010, and the contents of phosphorus, organic matter, pH, and base saturation. ANOVA and Scott–Knott test (5%), Pearson correlation, and response surface analysis were performed for each studied soil attribute. The results showed that the treatments with green manure + limestone + gypsum had the highest values of organic matter compared to the recovery treatments and that the treatments have been efficient in soil recovery. Therefore, the soil undergoing recovery showed an increase in P, OM, pH, and base saturation until 2011, and the response surface method was the most efficient in analyzing the results over time.